How to Groom a Wire Haired Pointing Griffon

Not to be confused with the gryphon, the wirehaired pointing griffon still manages to be extremely active. An exploratory nature and a particular fondness for water ensure he sees plenty of the outdoors, often taking bits home with him. In other words, this is a breed liable to get messy.

Step 1

Let any mud on his coat dry before brushing it off. Leave the rest of his coat for the time being.

Step 2

Examine him carefully for ticks, if they are prevalent in your area. They don’t show up well on darker coats but you might spot one or two, especially around his head. If you see one, grasp it firmly with the tweezers near the tick’s mouthparts and twist off.

Step 3

Pick off any plant burrs, seeds, twigs or other random material from his coat. Wirehaired pointing griffons have a tendency to explore, which usually involves pushing through vegetation.

Step 4

Make up a highly dilute solution of dog conditioner and water in a spray bottle and shake thoroughly. The American Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Association warns that grooming a completely dry coat can break the hairs, which are often quite brittle.

Step 5

Spray your dog’s coat lightly with the solution.

Step 6

Comb through his entire coat, making sure that you reach the undercoat. Coats vary in the breed, with some individuals having more of an undercoat than others.

Step 7

Brush through his coat to remove remaining dead hairs and dirt.

Step 8

Moisten a cotton ball with tepid water or an ear-cleaning fluid and wipe the accessible parts of his ear carefully. Repeat with a fresh ball for the other ear. Watch out for any signs of infection, such as redness, a discharge or a revolting smell. The shape of a wirehaired pointing griffon’s ears combined with his love of water makes him vulnerable to ear infections.

References

• Pet MD: Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

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Tips

If you wish to bathe your dog, the procedure is simple and much the same as for other breeds. Take him into the shower, wet his coat with tepid water, rub in shampoo, avoiding the face, rinse out and repeat with conditioner. Blot his coat dry with old towels once you have finished. However, you should not wash him more than once a month, even if he has been swimming. Mud can be removed by letting it dry and brushing it out or, if necessary, wiping off with a damp cloth.

If tick-borne illnesses are a problem in your area, preserve any ticks you remove in a vial of medicinal alcohol. If your dog later becomes ill, take the tick with you to the vet for identification purposes.

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Warnings

Pet MD recommends the plucking of hairs from the ear canal for this breed. However, this is not something you should do without advice and a demonstration from your vet first. The same goes for nail clipping -- essential for all dog breeds – ear cleaning and tooth brushing. During the initial check-up or at a later appointment, ask your vet for a demonstration of all these procedures.

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